Citrus reticulata plant named ‘WG17’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Citrus reticulata  cultivar named ‘WG17’ is disclosed, characterized by having distinctive fruit of bright orange flesh that peels very easily with a meaty, crunchy texture. The fruit is physically large and tall in height and less oblate in shape. Additionally, the new variety produces fruit that takes ethylene gas without burning.

Latin name of the genus and species: Citrus reticulata.

Variety denomination: ‘WG17’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned crossing program in 2000under the direction of the inventor, Bill Roe, a citizen of The UnitedStates. The inventor no longer has record of the seed parent, the pollenparent is the unpatented variety Citrus reticulata ‘Honey Tang’.

This new variety was found in November 2006 in a commercial nursery inWinter Haven, Fla. Plants were first propagated by tissue culture in2006 and subsequently grafted onto rootstocks US-897 and US-942.Development, evaluation, tissue culture and grafting all first tookplace at the inventor's commercial nursery in Winter Haven, Fla. USA.Subsequent evaluations of the variety have shown the characteristics tobe true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘WG17’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WG17’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WG17’ as a new and distinct Citrus reticulatacultivar:

-   -   1. Easy peeling fruit.    -   2. Develops bright orange external color.    -   3. Will take ethylene gas without burning.    -   4. Fruit has a crunchy internal texture, caused by very firm        individual juice vesicles, similar to the texture of Pomelo.    -   5. Large fruit size.    -   6. Fruit produces a round, less oblate shape.    -   7. Early season development of high internal color.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIEITES

Seed Parent is unknown.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WG17’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, Citrus reticulata ‘Honey Tang’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘WG17’ producefruit that matures 60-75 days earlier and is capable of taking ethylenegas without burning. Additionally, ‘WG17’ produces less juicy fruit thanthe unnamed pollen parent. Fruit of ‘WG17’ has lighter peel color thanthe parent. ‘WG17’ yields a fruit that is taller and less oblate ascompared to the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new variety is best compared to the commercial variety, Citrusreticulata ‘Robinson’, unpatented. ‘WG17’ is similar to ‘Robinson’ inmany horticultural characteristics however, ‘WG17’ produces larger fruitof lighter internal color, as well as fruit that holds on the tree withhigher stability. Additionally, the new variety ‘WG17’ does not needcross pollination, whereas cross pollination is required in the variety‘Robinson.’

‘WG17’ can also be compared to Citrus reticulata ‘Fallco’, unpatented.The two varieties are similar in many horticultural characteristics,however ‘WG17’ produces fruit with lower acid and lighter internal coloras well as easier peeling compared to ‘Fallco’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color examplesof typical fruit harvested from ‘WG17’.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical foliage of ‘WG17’.

Photographs are taken of plants approximately 3 years old. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘WG17’ plants grown outdoors under commercialtrial conditions in Winter Haven, Fla. USA. The growing temperatureranged from 4° C. to 37° C. during the day and −5° C. to 22° C. atnight. Measurements and numerical values represent an average from themost typical specimens.

-   Botanical classification: Citrus reticulata ‘WG17’.

PROPAGATION

‘WG17’ is typically grafted onto rootstock of Citrus reticulata US-897and US-942

PLANT

-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 3 years.-   Plant habit: Somewhat spreading form, with average canopy density.-   Height: Approximately 200 cm.-   Growth rate: Approximately 3 years to 200 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 150 to 200 cm, depending on pruning.-   Vigor: Good with heavy Spring flush and fruit-set with    cross-pollination.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30-36 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: 4-5.-   Angle of lateral branches from main trunk: 155-165° degrees.-   Branching arrangement: Alternate, branches exhibit only very    moderate weeping.-   Branch diameter: Average 3-4.5 cm.-   Trunk texture: Smooth.-   Trunk color: Near RHS Grey-Brown 199B.-   Trunk diameter: Average 6.5-7.5 cm on a 3 year old plant.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Average length.—6-11 cm. Average of 8.5-9 cm.        -   Average width.—2.5-5 cm. Average of 4 cm.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Smooth with ever so slight dentations.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of under side.—Slightly rough with pronounced center            vein.        -   Color.—Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 141B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average length 1-1.5 cm. Pubescence: None.            Color: Upper and lower surfaces near Yellow-Green 144B.

FLOWER

-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single rotate flowers    emerging from leaf axils.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 2 weeks.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Elongated, irregular sphere.        -   Length.—Average 2.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.9 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS White 155A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Average 3.1 cm.        -   Depth.—Average 2.1 cm.-   Corolla/petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Petal quantity.—5.        -   Length.—Average 1.7 cm.        -   Width.—Average 0.9 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Blunt.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155D.            Lower surface: Near RHS White 155D. Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near RHS White 155D. Lower surface: Near RHS White            155D.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Linear, partially fused at base.        -   Length.—Average 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower Surface:            Near RHS Green 137A.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average 1.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 0.25 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 35 degree angle from leaf axil.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Fragrance: Sweet, typical Citrus flower scent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Most commonly 12.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Globular.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158A.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow 8C. Quantity: Moderate.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 0.6 cm. Color: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: linear. Color: Near RHS Yellow 8D. Ovary            Color: RHS Green 143C.

FRUIT

-   Color exocarp: Near RHS Orange 28B.-   Color mesocarp: Near RHS Orange N25D.-   Flesh color: Near RHS Orange 28B.-   Brix at consumption: 11.30.-   Brix at harvest: 11.30. Acid 0.44 Ratio of 25.70.-   Average weight: 230 grams.-   Minimum weight: 180 grams.-   Maximum weight: 280 grams.-   Height: 5.8-6.4 cm. Average 6.2 cm.-   Width: 7-7.7 cm. Average of 7.5.-   Segment number per fruit: 11-12.-   Segment size:    -   -   Average width.—1.5 cm.        -   Average length.—4.2 cm.-   Fruit peduncle length: 1-2 cm.-   Fruit peduncle width: 40-60 mm.-   General shape: Not round as an orange, but not too oblate.-   Fruit aroma: Tart, sweet.-   Skin color at harvest: Near RHS Orange 28B.-   Skin/rind thickness: Very thin: 15 mm.-   Skin adherence to flesh at maturity: Exceptionally easy to peel.    Peel zippers off.-   Skin/rind texture: Extraordinarily smooth.-   Harvest time:    -   -   First harvest.—October 10.        -   Last harvest.—December 1.-   Overall cropping quantity: Crops heavily with huge fruit.-   Mature seed color: Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D.-   Quantity seed per fruit: An average sample of more than 100 fruits    gives an average of less than 2 seeds per fruit.-   Seed shape: Ovoid.-   Seed length: 10-13 mm. Average of 12 mm.-   Seed width: 5.5-7 mm.-   Other: Seeds aborted.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Storage life: Storage life is a minimum of 60 plus days at 2° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: ‘WG17’ has been observed to be susceptible    to Tangerine scab, Elsinoë fawcettii. No other susceptibility nor    resistance observed.-   Other fruit features: Takes ethylene gas very well. Fruit possesses    a very meaty and deep colored internal flesh. Fruit holds on tree    very well. Initially some dryness arises at the fruit stem end, as    the fruit matures, this dryness does not develops further. ‘WG17’    has a crunchy internal character, due to firm juice vesicles, and is    somewhat atypical of Florida fruit in that it has juice content    reminiscent of Mediterranean climate fruit.-   Shipping quality: The inventor measures shipping quality with two    categories: Perishability; meaning damage caused by clear rot,    blue-green mold and stem end rot. Misshapen fruit; Damage to the    fruit shape when packed in a commercial 35 to 40 pound shipping box.    ‘WG17’ produces a very firm fruit with a tight skin. The fruit does    not become misshapen during shipment, and has good resistance to the    perishability factors listed above. ‘WG17’ produces a very firm    fruit ideal for interstate shipment in commercial shipping boxes.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately    −5° C. without negative effects, tolerates high temperatures to    approximately 37° C. without negative effects.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Citrus reticulataplant named ‘WG17’ as herein illustrated and described.